Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 156808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 784(@200wpm)___ 627(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 784(@200wpm)___ 627(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
If he read that right, any progress they’d made earlier toward getting Kellus to relax had been lost. Kellus’s walls were sliding in place and he was acting distant again. Why? Had he done something to offend the artist?
“If you aren’t busy, I can fix us a drink in the bar. It’s closed. We won’t be interrupted. It shouldn’t take too long.”
“I can’t stay tonight,” Kellus replied. He took another smaller step backward. “The rain has me behind. My van problems messed me up…”
“No, that’s fine. Probably for the best. I, too, have more to do than can be done. Why don’t you give me your number. We can work a time that’s best for both of us in the next few days.”
“Sure, but I had my phone stolen last night, or rather this morning, so I haven’t had time to replace it. I’ll have time to get a new one tomorrow.”
“That’s not a problem,” Arik said, pulling out his cell, he worked the numbers to unlock the screen then looked up at Kellus, ready to add the artist’s information. Kellus hesitated before rattling off his number. “Great. Let’s not put this off too long.”
Kellus nodded and reached for his back pocket.
“Thank you,” Kellus said, holding up the envelope as he started to turn away.
“No. Thank you for another Kellus Hardin original. I already have the perfect spot for him.”
~♥~
Kellus couldn’t say why that particular compliment threw him even more off balance. He was at a loss for words, so he pivoted on his heel and started toward the main sliding door. After taking a couple of steps, he turned back. Arik stood there, staring after him, unnerving him even further. “Lock the gallery?”
“Absolutely.” Arik didn’t turn away; instead, he kept their gazes locked, and once again Kellus’s world tilted with some unknown emotion. He gave Arik a slight nod before doing an about-face. He could feel the heat in his cheeks and the slight unsteadiness of his steps. He forced himself to take a deep mental breath, and calm the hell down before he acted any more awkward. As much as he wanted to, he didn’t look back. Instead, his eyes went to the slightly distorted reflection on the glass of the front doors as they opened. Arik was still standing there, watching him as he walked through the opening.
He made it around the van’s bumper and out of sight before he rolled his shoulders, releasing all the tension he’d been holding. He clicked the key fob. Kellus opened the driver door, grabbed the steering wheel, and hoisted himself inside the cab before tossing the envelope on the dash. Lost in the thought of that weird exchange, he absently shoved the key in the ignition while staring out the front window, his mind replaying the odd conversation between him and the resort owner this evening.
Had Arik been flirting with him?
The absurdity of that thought made him roll his eyes, lifting his gaze to look in the rearview mirror as he chastised himself.
“Are you serious? No, ass.”
He stared at himself. His outer appearance was as frazzled and exhausted as he felt on the inside. Even if Arik’s sexuality were in question, he wasn’t anywhere close to his league. The guy was model gorgeous and looked like the million bucks he probably had in his wallet.
Oh God, that caused him to bark out a critical laugh at himself.
“You’re dumber than I thought,” he said, to the reflection in the mirror before dropping the gearshift into drive. He pulled away, ignoring the tightness in his jeans that seemed to occur whenever he thought about the hotel owner.
Arik’s smile did him in, made him feel awkward and unsteady. So not the vibe he needed to give off. He’d stay away from him and hopefully make it through the show without making a fool of himself. Maybe he could avoid the man altogether. Kellus cringed. He had no choice but to pursue the offer of more work.
He rolled his eyes at the idea of Arik wanting anything from him as he pulled out on to the street. He needed to be more professional and get his shit together. And he sure as hell couldn’t be popping a boner every time he talked to the guy. He steeled his overactive libido and chastised himself the whole way home.
Hours later, locked inside his workshop, Kellus picked up a towel and stared at the canvas he’d been working on. It wasn’t anything from the list of projects he needed to finish. No, this one was designed to get his head right. He had learned early on to always paint what occupied his heart and head. He’d be useless until he released those emotions into the canvas.
He stepped back and cocked his head to the side, looking at the painting. He turned to the computer and absently ran a finger over the darkened screen. A picture of Arik appeared on the screen, one he’d used only as a resource. Studying that random shot, he turned back to his painting. What he’d painted was more from his memory. Clearly, Arik’s impact was substantial. Kellus grinned. He’d done pretty well from memory. He’d captured the small lines that gathered at the corners of Arik’s eyes when he smiled as well as those gold flecks that caused his eyes to twinkle in a well-lit room.